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VITAL STATISTICS
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BORN: 1809 in Prince Edward County, VA.
DIED: 1867 in St. Louis, MO.
CAMPAIGNS: Wilson's Creek, Lexington, Pea Ridge, Iuka, Corinth, Helena, Camden Expedition, Price's Missouri Raid.
HIGHEST RANK ACHIEVED: Major General
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BIOGRAPHY
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| Sterling Price was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, on September 20, 1809. When he was 21 years old, he and his family moved to Missouri, where he became a slaveowner, major tobacco planter and politician on the frontier. Price served as military governor of New Mexico during the Mexican War, and was appointed a brigadier general. After the war, he was elected to the legislature and to Congress. In 1852, Price was elected governor, and later became commander of state troops. He initially opposed Missouri's secession. However, when Francis P. Blair, Jr. and Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Lyon took over Camp Jackson in St. Louis, Price was so outraged that he joined the Confederacy as commander of Missouri troops. He and Confederate Brig. Gen. Ben McCulloch defeated Brig. Gen. Lyon at Wilson's Creek, Missouri, then took the Union garrison at Lexington. Price was appointed a major general on March 6, 1862, but won no further major victories. After suffering defeat at Pea Ridge, Arkansas; Iuka, Corinth and Helena, Arkansas; he helped oppose the Camden Expedition. Late in 1864, Price led the Army of Missouri in what became known as Price's Missouri Raid, which ended in retreat. When the Confederacy surrendered, Price fled to Mexico, and returned in 1867, poor and in ill health. He died in St. Louis, on September 29, 1867. |
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